Working across Asia signing contracts and living in Asia for many years

Visiting a country is thrilling to be driven everywhere, watch the bands and performances, and enjoy the dinners every night but does not allow for a deep and accurate understanding of the people. They often will not express themselves honestly until getting to know you for quite some time. This includes the two-month vacations, all over Europe and Asia, sight-seeing. Most often, the complete interactions held are talking with servers, resort staff, and shopkeepers (in each case selling items and looking to receive cash payments from you), not meeting the real families, and spending long periods with them.


Living in a country for at least one year often begins to reveal the truth of how they feel about America and the world, what their real customs are - and troubles. Dignitaries flying into 100+ countries most often completely miss the truth, issues, and practical concerns of an entire race living there. Their "10-day visit" to the country reveals high-level talks only, and often, agreements.  Yet they never came to know the real people, nation, or families.

After two years, Marti received his first invitation visit inside a Japanese home. Behind the iron veil, it is one of the highest honors to be asked to visit a private residence and eat a meal. Due to his successes with the Japanese public, in representing American interests as the Commander Submarine Group 7 and Commander TaskForce 54 Public Affairs Officer (PAO), he was later elevated to the position of PAO. When Admiral Joseph J. Krol, Jr. raised him, Chief Mongiello mentioned, "but this is the position of a commissioned officer." The Admiral stated, "you have deeply impressed the Japanese people, numerous business leaders in this country, and the government leaders - Marti, you've got the job."


Marti soon became highly sought after to negotiate large contracts as a portion of 2.6 billion USD in food purchases across that half of the world.  As one of eight TOP CHEFS responsible for 95 million meals per year and 6400 chefs, he often wore a blue ball cap with gold lettering on its bill in capital letters, BOTTOM CHEF. This stirred up quite a dustball of questions from fellow chefs, owners, and restaurateurs.


As Marti gave presentations in Singapore, Guam, Japan, South Korea, and many other locations, his responsibilities increased until being promoted to TOP CHEF of the entire Pacific Fleet with 37 nuclear submarines and several ships under him on half of the earth. Marti was well recognized as a contracting expert and negotiator. His greatest strength always has been a huge, generous presence as an LEO. Yet his loving and respectful ways of learning a country's language, all mannerisms, becoming their customs and unique bodily movements, as well as eating and cooking their favorite dishes, score very high points. Marti teaches to understand you must live with the lower and middle class of that country - one cannot succeed in a lasting arrangement only brokered via high-level cabinet talks. It would be best if you learned their religion and language first - your deal will come after. Given the multi-billion dollar responsibilities he held in his young 30's - and American interests as a Public Affairs Officer, many have asked how he was so successful. Marti often states, "by not acting like a totalitarian invader, master and police officer on earth. I study all of their customs, bowing, and finger movements at times for up to two years. I cannot tell you how many times what Americans have done with their fingers that has ruined a deal. And we have sent many cowboys and John Wayne folks back home who could not bring themselves to bow, kneel, or more. They were a disgrace and acted loud and ruined hundred-billion dollar deals that I had to fix and restart."

Marti felt very fortunate to cook for Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto while facilitating talks between America and Japan. He reflected on it with prayers when visiting with Chef Stormy at the famed Jojoji Temple in Tokyo.


This is the same temple that president and first lady Delia Grant planted a small sapling of a pine tree. Today, it is a large tree.


Due to this honor, Chefs Marti and Stormy were also welcomed to Katsunuma Wine Region west of Japan as special guests of the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA).


They were featured with IFSEA Tokyo President Mitsumi Ubukata for photos inside the VIP lounge of All Japan Chefs Association, which Marti is a LIFE member of in WACS.